Transportation from airport & back ???

[Kim Kansteiner]

This is our first trip to WDW. We will not have a car rental and will need transportation to our resort then back to airport on departure day. What transportation service should we use? We don't need anything fancy....just reasonable rates. If I reserve in advance, will they be waiting for us when we arrive? Thanks for the input!

 

[Beast fan]

How many of you are traveling?
If it's just you and DH (Husband), I'd suggest using Mears transportation. Mears will not be waiting for you. They do, however, have at least one counter at MCO (I think 2, actually) where you would pay for your round trip. If you don't have any discounts/coupons, I believe the round-trip rate is $29 per adult. Using this service, you will be put on a bus, grouped with a bunch of others (depending upon how busy they are) and - unless you're lucky - your resort may be 5th, 6th, 7th (etc.) on their list of stops.

If there are 4 or more in your party, you may want to look at a "town-car" service. We recently (over the New Year's holiday) used one of this board's sponsors, FL Tours. The driver was waiting for us at baggage claim and helped us (myself, DW and DS's - then 3.5 and 5.5) with our luggage. Since we were staying at VWL, FL Tours provided us with a free 30 minute grocery stop. Afterwards, the driver took us directly to our resort. Prices for a town-car service are about the same, or cheaper, as using Mears if you have at least 4 people in your group. Since this was our first time to WDW with the DS's, we loved being taken directly to our resort.

Have fun on your trip!

Dave

 

[Jestocost]

Mears is OK. Just kind of a cattle call and not the most efficient. One of my biggest complaints about them is how far in advance before your departure they want to pick you up. I'd much rather spend an extra hour or two at a park than have to meet my Mears bus FOUR HOURS before my flight.

We've started using the town car service and with four people it's actually about the same price as Mears (when you include a tip for your town car drivers). Plus, our pick up is just two hours before our flight (time for at least one more ride on ToT than if Mears was driving!) and the entire experience is much more civilized.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Another vote for towncar service! Be sure and take advantage of the grocery stop most of them allow as you can load up on snacks, sodas, water, whatever and save quite a bit of money.